After 21 years in Conference USA, UTEP joined a new conference this year in what could be a make-or-break season for head coach Scotty Walden.
The Miners joined Northern Illinois and North Dakota State as the newest members of the Mountain West this year. They joined the fold just as many of the conference’s top contenders, including Boise State and San Diego State, left to become members of the new Pac-12.
UTEP went 2-10 last season and has won just five games in two seasons under Walden. The move to a new conference may make his job a little safer. He could get a little leeway from the Miners’ lack of success, too.
The program has produced one winning season since 2015, including an 0-12 campaign in 2017. UTEP hasn’t won more than five games in a season since it went 7-6 in 2021.
The best way for Walden to protect his job is to win. To do that, he’s going to need a lot of new pieces to come together quickly, as the Miners have to rebuild the bulk of their roster.
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UTEP Season Preview
The Miners have holes to fill on their roster, including starting quarterback, leading rusher, their top four receivers and their leading tackler.
Can Colson Save The Day?
After four quarterbacks played in at least six games and combined to throw 20 interceptions last season, UTEP turned to the transfer portal to find a veteran to take the reins of the offense. What resulted could prove to be the Mountain West’s most consequential signing of the year.
Redshirt sophomore EJ Colson landed in El Paso this season after throwing for 2,142 yards and 16 touchdowns and completing more than 70% of his passes at Incarnate Word last season. He also added 287 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Colson began his career at UCF in 2024.
Offensive Reinforcements
Top wide receivers Wondame Davis Jr. (Wake Forest) and Kenny Odom (USF) hit the transfer portal, but the Miners have a new crop of receivers ready to take their place. Kam Thomas, who will also see some carries, and 6-foot-2 Northern Colorado transfer Carver Cheeks are both explosive options.
Jaden Smith is hoping to bounce back from a couple of injury plagued seasons and get back to the form he showed with 1,922 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in three seasons at Eastern Kentucky. Jaylan Brown caught 10 passes in nine games last season.
The backfield will be full of portal additions, including Tavorus Jones (Missouri) and Lamar Sperling (Buffalo).
Can The Defense Force The Issue?
UTEP forced just five interceptions and 12 total takeaways last season. Knowing they have to improve on those numbers, Walden turned to the portal to find his next crop of difference makers.
The Miners signed cornerbacks LaTristan Thompson (Utah) and Kaleb Miles (East Texas A&M) and safeties Donavan Howard (Virginia State) and Esteban Guillory (Western Illinois), all of whom should make an impact alongside returning cornerback Justin Content and safety Xavier Smith.
The Miners also have to replace the majority of last season’s top pass rushers. They’ll turn to Eastern Michigan transfer Sterling Miles and young defensive ends Shakaun Bowser and Ekow Taylor.
UTEP’s Breakout Candidate
WR/RB Kam Thomas – Playing UTEP’s hybrid “MinerBack,” Thomas will aim to make an impact in the passing and running games. He’s one of the most explosive players on the team, and he led the Miners with 871 all-purpose yards in 2024 before missing most of last season with an injury. In 2024, he returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown and was named first-team All-Conference USA as a punt returner.
UTEP’s Mountain West Championship Betting Odds
UTEP’s college football betting odds to win the Mountain West championship are at +8000, according to BetMGM. UNLV and New Mexico are the favorites at +270.
UTEP’s Betting Odds and Over/Under Win Total
- UTEP’s Over/Under win total is 3.5 games, according to BetMGM
- The Over is at +110
- The Under is at -140
2026 UTEP Schedule
Sept. 4 at Oklahoma
Sept. 12 vs. Texas Southern
Sept. 19 at Michigan
Sept. 26 vs. Oregon State
Oct. 3 at New Mexico
Oct. 10 vs. Nevada
Oct. 17 vs. San Jose State
Oct. 31 at North Dakota State
Nov. 7 vs. Hawaii
Nov. 14 vs. Wyoming
Nov. 20 at Air Force
Nov. 28 at Northern Illinois
Bold indicates Mountain West games
UTEP Season Prediction
I predict UTEP will not win the Mountain West championship, but the Miners will win more than 3.5 games.
They jump right into the fire, playing Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon State and New Mexico in four of their first five games, but UTEP will at the very least be battle tested when Hawaii comes to town in November. The Miners don’t play UNLV – one of the favorites to win the Mountain West.
Colson looks like he could have a special season, especially if the receivers’ room performs up to its potential. The secondary should be better, but the Miners need a lot more takeaways and a lot fewer turnovers on offense if they’re going to be competitive in Year 1 in the Mountain West.
